Alternative & Renewable Energy

In-depth knowledge of the industry and a commitment to understanding the business objectives of our clients enable us to provide focused strategic counsel and advice for developing and financing alternative and renewable energy projects.

Overview

The attorneys on our team represent owners and developers of solar, wind, biomass, and other energy facilities generating electricity from alternative or renewable sources. We also work with investors supplying capital and financing for such projects. As the landscape of legislation, federal and state tax credits, and other programs that dramatically impact economic efficiency constantly changes, our clients rely on us to stay on the cutting edge of developments in the use of these incentives by owners and investors. Our goal of providing a big-picture perspective while still seeing the details of each individual project enables us to assist our diverse client base with the specific needs unique to each installation.

We assist developer clients with every step of the life cycle of an energy project using an integrated approach, including site acquisition; structuring ownership to facilitate the use of available tax credits and incentives; conventional and alternative financing; the leveraging of state and local government economic development programs and incentives; the negotiation of power purchase agreements and solar energy procurement agreements; and permitting and interconnection issues.

The Alternative & Renewable Energy practice is international in scope. In addition to representing foreign companies that develop their own energy projects in the U.S., we also assist international clients that need help in selecting and acquiring American site locations for the manufacture of solar panels, modules, inverters, wind turbines, and other equipment and components incorporated into renewable energy facilities.

The team also works closely with colleagues in the firm’s Economic Development practice in order to identify the most appropriate tax abatement, financing, and other economic incentive programs that can be used for a particular site. The detailed knowledge of what is available at a state or county level, along with personal relationships with the relevant decision-makers, can make a difference in the economic viability of a project.

Our attorneys have always been on Boards of Directors and in other leadership positions of notable trade and business groups in the industry, state, national, and even international levels. We also remain deeply involved as policy advocates and in related lobbying efforts at the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and the State legislature, including assistance with drafting legislation targeting the expansion of renewable energy opportunities in the State. We also participate actively in the PSC’s Integrated Resource Plan process, which has led to an expanded mandate for the procurement of solar energy projects by the Georgia Power Company.

Experience

  • Assist national and international renewable energy development and investment companies in the acquisition, structuring, and financing of solar development projects in Georgia and the negotiation of related local tax abatement and other economic development incentives.
  • Negotiated a Solar Energy Procurement Agreement on behalf of Emory University for the installation of solar facilities at 17 rooftop and parking deck sites across campus.
  • Represented an international food distribution company in connection with its renewable energy initiatives around the country, including the procurement of solar energy for 18 sites in Texas, rooftop solar on a warehouse in New Jersey, and the development of an electric vehicle fleet for facilities in northern California.
  • Negotiating a Solar Energy Procurement Agreement on behalf of the owner of a multi-building office complex for the installation of solar facilities at several sites around the project.
  • Regularly manage immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing on behalf of a German company that is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wind turbines.
  • Assisted a $2 billion asset German fund with due diligence for a U.S. renewable energy fund.
  • Represented an Austrian manufacturer of solar inverters and welding equipment in legal aspects of a national site selection search, including negotiation of an incentive package valued at about $20 million in connection with its $40 million investment in a North American headquarters and manufacturing facility expected to create about 700 jobs. Further assisted in the negotiation of local tax abatements and acquisition of real estate.
  • Served as buy-side counsel for the strategic acquisition of infrastructure assets for the wholesale distribution of petroleum products and renewable fuels in the energy sector.

    Recognition

    AGG has received the Georgia Solar Energy Association’s Solar Advocate Award.